JIM WESTON
Glen's mind was greatly agitated as she made her way slowly homeward.
Curly's presence was the cause of this, as she feared that her father
would be so angry with the villain that it would make it hard for
Reynolds. He might imagine that the two were in league with each
other, as they were both from Big Draw. She despised Curly, knowing
what a vile loathsome creature he was, and she had a very fair idea why
he had ventured across the Golden Crest. Had he not avowed his
affection for her at the dance, and had told her that he would run any
risk to meet her again? How glad she had been that night when Sconda
came for her, and she could free herself from her unwelcome and
insistent suitor. And Curly was now a prisoner at Glen West! She
shuddered as she recalled the look on his face when he saw her and
Reynolds together. And his language! She could not get the terrible
words out of her mind. The meaning of some she did not know, never
having heard them before, but she fully realised that they must be very
bad, or else Curly would not have used them in his rage. And should he
now escape, there was no telling what his revengeful spirit might lead
him to do, either to herself, or to him who was now beginning to mean
so much to her.
Thinking thus, she reached the house, and as soon as she entered she
knew that her father was at home, for the door of his private room was
open. He was seated at his desk when he turned and saw her. Springing
to his feet, he caught her in his arms, kissed her on both cheeks, and
then holding her at the full length of his powerful arms, he looked
eagerly and lovingly upon her now flushed and excited face.
"Why, you are getting better looking every day," he declared. "Just
like your dear mother at her age. My, my, how the time has gone! and
it seems but yesterday that I first met her. But, there, there, I must
not give way to such feelings on this my first night home. Come, sit
by my side and tell me all about yourself, and how things are going at
Glen West."
For the first time in her young life Glen was sorry that her father had
come home. She was really more than sorry, for a nameless fear
possessed her heart, which restrained her usual free and happy manner.
Her father's keen intuition noted this, and that her words seemed
forced. Her enthusiasm over his arrival was not so hearty and natural
as formerly, and he wondered why.
"What is the matter, dear?" he asked after Glen had somewhat haltingly
told him about her music and certain household affairs. "You do not
seem like yourself. Has anything out of the ordinary happened at Glen
West since I have been away?"
"Yes, lots of things, daddy," was the reply. "One of the most
important is your absence from home for such a length of time. You
should be ashamed of yourself."
Weston laughed, although he felt quite sure that she was evading the
real issue.
"I am sorry, dear, and I make my humble confession now. But what else
of importance has been taking place?"
"I was nearly eaten up by a bear on Crooked Trail, and it was a grizzly
at that."
Glen was surprised that her father did not seem more concerned, and she
told him so.
"You take it very coolly, daddy. Just think, you might have come home
and not found me here."
"I am very thankful that you escaped, dear, but did I not forbid your
going so far alone beyond the Golden Crest? I hope your experience has
taught you a lesson. How were you saved from the grizzly?"
"Oh, a hunter shot it just in the nick of time," Glen explained as
indifferently as possible, although she knew that her cheeks were
aflame. "And, oh, daddy, you should have seen the shot he made; it was
wonderful!"
"Where was the hunter from, Glen?"
"From Big Draw mining camp, so I understand."
"Were you talking to him?"
"Yes, just for a few minutes."
"And have you seen him since?"
Glen's eyes dropped and the flush left her cheeks. Her father noted
this, and he laid his right hand suddenly upon her arm.
"Speak, Glen, and tell me at once whether you have seen him since."
Something in her father's voice startled the girl, and she looked up
quickly into his face.
"Tell me," he again demanded. "What is the matter? Have you seen that
man lately?"
"Yes, I have."
"Where?"
"Here."
"At Glen West? He has been here, and you have seen him? Are you sure?"
"I am certain. I was with him this afternoon in the canoe. But,
daddy, what is the matter? Oh, don't get angry. I didn't do anything
wrong."
Jim Weston had risen to his feet, and was looking down upon his
daughter. He was a powerfully-built man, of more than ordinary height.
The northern winter was in his thick hair and heavy moustache, while
his steady light-blue eyes and firm, well-built chin betokened a strong
will power of unyielding determination. Glen had often expressed her
unbounded admiration for her father, and believed him to be the most
handsome man in the world. But now he seemed like an avenging god,
about to visit upon her the force of his wrath. For the first time in
her life she cowered before him, and hid her face in her hands.
"And you say that your rescuer is here?" Weston at length asked. "When
did he come, and where is he staying?"
"We saved him from a raft out on the lake just before that fearful
storm," Glen faintly replied. "He was almost dead, and in a minute
more he would have been drowned. Oh, it was terrible! He is now at
Sconda's."
"Another miner's trick, I suppose, to get here," Weston growled. "It
has been tried before, but with scanty success. This must be one more
fool who was trying the same game."
"He is not a fool," Glen stoutly protested, lifting her eyes defiantly
to her father's face. "Mr. Reynolds is a gentleman. He is different
from the rest of the miners."
"What was he doing out on the lake?" her father asked.
"He got lost in the hills, and nearly died. He drifted down the Tasan
River on a raft which he built. He was almost starved to death."
"And what was he doing in the hills?"
"Prospecting, so he told me. He was with Frontier Samson, and, going
after a moose, lost his way."
"H'm," Weston grunted. "A trumped-up yarn, no doubt. Don't you think
it looks rather suspicious?"
"It might if it were someone else. But he is different, and I believe
he told me the truth."
"Well, we shall soon find out, Glen. If he begins any of his lies or
fancy tales to me, he will learn his mistake. I am not going to have
any young man wandering about this region, let me tell you that. It
has been tried too often already, so we might as well make a special
example of him in order to warn others. It's the 'Ordeal' for him, all
right."
At these words Glen sprang to her feet and confronted her father. Her
eyes were blazing with intense emotion, and Jim Weston stared at her in
amazement. A feeling of pride welled up within him at her appearance
and courage.
"You shall not lay hands on him," Glen passionately declared. "He is
an innocent man, and it would be unjust to hurt him."
"Glen, Glen, what is the meaning of this?" her father demanded. "You
seem to be greatly interested in this fellow. I am surprised at you."
"I am interested, daddy. Nay, I am more than interested, for I love
him with my whole heart, so there. Don't you dare to touch him."
The strain of this interview was telling upon Glen. As soon as this
confession had left her lips, she was wild with regret. Why had she
done this? she asked herself, as she stood with big staring eyes
watching her father. What would he say? What would he not do to her?
Her body trembled, a weakness swept upon her, and sinking down into her
chair, she buried her face in her hands and sobbed as if her heart
would break.
If Jim Weston was astonished before, he was dumbfounded now at what his
daughter had told him. His heart went out in a great rush of pity to
his only child and he longed to take her in his arms and comfort her.
But he felt that he must be firm and not give way to any feeling of
emotion at a time like this. Instead, he laid his hand somewhat
heavily upon her shoulder.
"Does this fellow, Reynolds, know of your love?" he asked.
"No, no; he has not the least idea of it," was the low reply.
"And he has not avowed his love to you? Are you sure?"
"I am certain. He has never given the least sign that he cares for me
more than if I were an ordinary acquaintance. But he is a gentleman
both in word and action."
For a few minutes Jim Weston stood lost in thought. It seemed to Glen
as if he would never speak. The silence of the room was so intense
that she was sure her fast-beating heart could be distinctly heard.
"I must have time to think this over, Glen," her father at length
informed her. "You may go now and get ready for supper. Nannie has
been kept waiting too long already."
Never before had Glen heard her father speak to her in such a cold,
peremptory manner. Slowly she rose to her feet and walked across the
room. Her head was aching, and she was glad to get away, anywhere in
order that she might be alone, and from her father's stern, accusing
eyes.
She had almost reached the door, when Sconda stood suddenly before her.
She paused, while the Indian entered and walked at once toward his
master.
"Well, Sconda, what is it?" the latter demanded, annoyed at the
native's intrusion at this critical moment. "Anything wrong?"
Weston spoke in the Indian language, with which he was most familiar.
"Big White Chief," Sconda began, "the Golden Crest has been crossed.
Another white man is here."
"I know it," was the curt reply. "He came by water this time, so I
understand."
"Not by water, Big White Chief, but through the pass, over Crooked
Trail."
"He did! Why, Glen, you told me he came by way of the lake. Have you
been deceiving me, girl?"
"Indeed I have not," was the emphatic and somewhat angry denial. "I am
surprised that you think I would deceive you, daddy. Sconda refers to
someone else. It is Curly who came by the pass, and not Mr. Reynolds."
"Curly! Curly here, did you say?" Weston almost shouted the words, and
so fierce did he look that the Indian retreated a step.
"Ah, ah, Curly here," Sconda replied.
"When did he come?"
"To-day. He was caught as he came through the pass. He shot, but
missed."
"Where is he now?"
"At Taku's."
Weston placed his hand to his forehead in perplexity.
"This is certainly a great home-coming," he muttered. "Trouble
everywhere, with white men entering the place by lake and pass. Look,
Sconda, bring Curly here in one hour. See?"
The Indian merely nodded.
"And get ready for the Ordeal at once. Savvey?"
"Ah, ah, Sconda savvey," was the reply, and with that he left the house.
Glen went, too, without another word to her father, and hurried to her
own room. It was a cozy place, fitted up with every comfort, and she
loved it dearly. But now it seemed to her like a prison. She longed
to throw herself upon the bed and give vent to her feelings in a flood
of tears. But she knew that her father would be expecting her
downstairs, so it was necessary to make haste.
When at last she entered the dining-room, Weston was already there,
talking with Nannie. The latter noticed Glen's pale face, but made no
comment. With her naturally keen intuition, she divined the cause of
the trouble and discreetly said nothing.
During the meal Weston seemed like an altogether different man, and
talked and laughed in the most animated manner. He told a number of
his experiences in the hills, several of which were of a humorous
nature. Glen tried to be interested, although she found it difficult
to follow what her father was saying. He puzzled her more than ever.
Why was he so stern and cruel at times, and again so bright and merry?
He did not seem the least angry now at her, neither was he apparently
concerned about the two prisoners at Glen West.
When supper was ended, Weston pushed back his chair and lighted a cigar.
"My, that tastes good," he commented. "It's the first I've had in a
long time. Now for some music, Glen."
Music! Glen started and looked at her father, as if she had not heard
aright. What did he mean? Was he going to add further torture to her
racked brain by asking her to play and sing? She had hardly spoken a
word during the meal, and had barely tasted her food. This Weston
noted, and he well understood the reason. How much will she safely
stand? he asked himself. He was about to repeat his suggestion, when
Sconda arrived, and with him came Curly, guarded by two stalwart
Indians. Glen breathed a sigh of relief at this timely interruption,
and leaving the table, she fled at once to the seclusion of her own
room.